> 1- South American lions?
>
> 2- According to a philogeny of the Carnivora shown in the Biological
Review 74, pp 143-175 (Bininda-Emonds, Glitteman & Purvis), the
closest relative of the lion would be the leopard, followed by the
jaguar and the tiger.
By my understanding, the N.Am mountain lion/cougar/puma is a true
lion, albeit one not forming social prides like the Old World varity.